I know she’s not asking out of the goodness of her heart or to get to know me better as I accompany them out. She just doesn’t want me going upstairs with Aspen.
As if that’s her decision to make.
Aspen answers for me. “Actually, I invited him up.” I like watching the way she asserts her ground so effortlessly. “But you guys have a fun night. I’ll see you when you get back?”
Sara nods and pulls her in for a hug. As I watch them hug goodbye and see the way Aspen practically melts into them, twin pangs lance through my chest. On one hand, it makes me proud to see her have found her own family out here with these two and the clear bond they have. And with the way they both sized me up the entire time we’ve been talking, they clearly look out for her best interests.
But on the other, it makes me miss what I used to have with my own friends.
The two women scoot past us, Sara giving me a nod in goodbye while Marley ignores me, and head down thestairs. Aspen watches them go, then continues up to the third floor. I follow her into her apartment as she flips on the living room light.
It’s a fairly spacious apartment, with an open concept between the living room, kitchen, and dining area. It’s bathed in warm tones mixed with jewel-colored pieces. Art covers the wall and I find myself searching the pieces that feel like Aspen’s touch.
She hangs her purse on a hook by the door and gestures toward the space. “This is my home. It’s probably not much to you but it works for us.”
Annoyance flares at her comment but I leave it be. This place is infused with personality and warmth, which is more than I can say for how my house has felt lately.
“Do you want anything to drink?” She motions toward the fridge.
“I’m good.”
“Well then.” She shifts and rubs her hands together. “I guess I’ll give you a little tour. This is obviously the main area and then over here”—she walks past the kitchen to a large sliding glass door—“we have a balcony. You can’t see much since it’s dark, but I like to have my coffee out there in the mornings.”
“Sounds nice,” I muse.
She leads me down the opposite end of the hallway and into a room on the right. Her bedroom by the looks of it as she flicks on a light.
A flash of orange comes darting our way and I jolt back, catching myself on the doorframe.
Penny laughs and bats at my shoulder. “Don’t be scared! This is my son.”
I stare down at the orange fluff. “That’s a cat.”
She glares at me. “Yes, but he’s also my son.” She then drops to her knees and coos at the little thing.
Or big thing, I should say. Jesus, that’s one of the fattest cats I’ve ever seen in my life.
“How was your day, buddy? I missed you!”
The cat purrs and nudges her hand.
“Macaroni, meet Reid.”
“Macaroni?”
“Yeah,” she says and looks up at me. “Like mac and cheese.”
I roll my eyes. “I gathered as such. It just sounds like something a child would name a pet.”
“It fits him!”
“Sure does. Jesus, how much does he weigh?”
“Shh!” She covers the cat’s head with one of her hands. “We’re working on his weight. Don’t insult him.”
The cat ducks out from under her hand and pads toward me. He sniffs the air as he gets closer, whiskers twitching with the movement. He inspects my pants, getting a closer whiff of me, before his back arches and his ears sit flat on his head. The little fucker glares up at me and hisses.
“Macaroni!” Aspen scolds but the cat doesn’t stop. If anything, his golden eyes turn harsher as he looks up at me.
